A new reader to the blog posted her own recipe to describe “reform,” which has an unfortunate habit of failing again and again but being revived by Betsy DeVos and/or Bill Gates and the Walton Family:
Sandy Dixon Forrest Recipe for sucking in public tax money and making obscene profits on the backs of public school teachers and students: FINANCE inappropriate “standards” to be implemented by all teachers, REQUIRE the use of products which financially benefit the creator of the “goals,” SMILE as hired “cheerleaders” tout the benefits of the mandated program, BEAM proudly as profits roll into the companies producing the “magic” solution, CRINGE privately at dismal results, REWRITE the “cheerleader” script, AND THEN…drum roll, please.. BLAME the teachers for disappointing results of the non-educators’ (but obscenely wealthy) magic elixir to cure the problems of all public school students. RESULTS?! The sponsors of this hoax made buckets of money! Wave goodbye to the career teachers; TFA folks are cheaper and more (desperate) cooperative anyway. Don’t worry about the kiddos; just give them a double dose of grit. It’s all good…right?
True dat!…as my son would say.
And, training (sit up, roll over, good boy) Prole children to apply themselves gritfully to the next inane online exercise on “standard” LaLaLa.xxx.666 is excellent preparation for lives as obedient drones in a service economy with a few Masters of the Universe at the top and a lot of low-paid gig workers without unions or benefits at the bottom. “Will you be taking that latte on the veranda, Master Gates?”
It’s a win win.
Of course, that’s education for Prole children and not how it’s done at the breathtakingly expensive private schools that Gates’s children attend, when they are not at the 16 million-dollar horse farm in Florida, near Palm Beach, that Gates bought for his daughter because she likes to ride and, as Gates says, you shouldn’t just hand things to them. (They have to earn it by being born into breathtaking privilege.)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3663084/Privacy-obsessed-Bill-Gates-bought-18-acre-37million-elite-equestrian-enclave-Florida.html
Politicians routinely misdiagnose problems in order to punish the innocent and reward the guilty. The guilty must always be rewarded because they are also the powerful – that’s how they became the guilty in the first place.
a key point: they misdiagnose as strategy
Good golly, Miss Molly. Thank you for posting my remarks. You are such an important voice for public education and our democracy. Sandy Forrest
If I had known your name, I would have given you credit! Thank you! Do you know how long I have saved that gem?
Diane, I was trying to remember when I wrote it. Reading your blog daily is essential. You are amazing and such an important voice; I pray for your continued good health and stamina. These are strange and crucial times, and your honesty and sincerity are greatly appreciated. Sandy Forrest (retired 31 yr. middle school ELA teacher)
Sandy Forrest, a great contribution. Thank you. Also thanks to Bob for the picture-rich link to the Gate’s search for a suitable venue for the daughter who likes to ride horses. Do look at how the upper 99% invest and who else is in this Palm Beach neighborhood. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3663084/Privacy-obsessed-Bill-Gates-bought-18-acre-37million-elite-equestrian-enclave-Florida.html
I think you meant the top .00001%.
Yes. Gates and Bloomberg are in the same hood.